Most UK businesses will head into 2026 carrying the same cyber and technology risks they had at the start of this year. The gap between what organisations know they should be doing and what is actually in place is still wide.
Government research highlights this clearly. Only around one in five UK businesses has a formal cyber incident response plan. At the same time about half experienced a cyber breach or attack within the last twelve months. For any small or mid-sized firm this means the question is not whether an incident will happen but how quickly you will be able to respond when it does.
The end of the year is the right time to get ahead of this. It is a natural pause in the business calendar and budgets for 2026 are being finalised. A simple checklist that sets the foundations for a safer and more resilient year can make a real difference.
Below is a practical guide for owners, directors and operational leaders who do not have an internal IT director or dedicated technology leadership. Each point is achievable and gives you a clearer and more controlled start to 2026.
1 Audit access to your systems
Start by reviewing who has access to your systems. Over time accounts build up and access often stays in place long after an employee has changed role or left the business.
Check:
- All current staff have the correct level of access
- Administrator accounts are limited and reviewed
- Anyone who has left has been fully offboarded
- Shared mailboxes and passwords are controlled
This is a quick way to reduce risk without spending money.
2 Confirm that multi-factor authentication is enforced everywhere
Most cyber incidents that affect smaller businesses involve compromised passwords. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) remains one of the simplest and strongest controls you can implement.
Make sure MFA is switched on for:
- Microsoft 365
- VPN or remote access
- Finance platforms
- Any tools your teams use to process client data
If you already use MFA check that it is enforced rather than optional.
3 Review your backup and recovery position
Backups are often assumed to be in place yet rarely tested. A backup that has not been tested cannot be relied upon.
Before the Christmas break make sure you know:
- What is being backed up
- How often backups run
- Where data is stored
- Whether a full restore has been tested this year
If it has not been tested recently schedule a test in early January.
4 Look at your Microsoft 365 environment
Most businesses now run the majority of their work in Microsoft 365. It makes sense to check the basics are covered.
Review:
- Conditional Access rules
- Device compliance policies
- External sharing settings
- Email security features such as anti-spoofing rules
- Licence usage to ensure you are not paying for unused licences
These checks can reduce risk while also keeping costs under control.
5 Review your phishing and user awareness approach
Human error still accounts for a significant proportion of cyber incidents.
End users should have:
- Annual training
- Regular guidance on spotting suspicious messages
- Occasional phishing simulations
- A simple way to report suspicious emails
Awareness does not need to be complicated but it must be consistent.
6 Put in place a basic incident response plan
You do not need a large or complex document. You do need a clear process your team can follow if something goes wrong.
At minimum capture:
- Who takes the lead if a cyber incident is suspected
- How the incident will be assessed
- Who needs to be informed
- How systems will be contained or isolated
- How communication with customers will be handled
This helps reduce panic and speeds up decision making.
7 Review key suppliers and single points of failure
Most businesses rely on a core set of systems such as CRM, payroll, finance or their website. Make sure you know:
For each critical system:
- Who supports each system
- How to contact them in an emergency
- Whether any partners are single points of failure
- Whether contracts renew automatically in early 2026
A quick review now can prevent service interruptions later.
8 Decide your priorities for the first quarter of 2026
A simple roadmap gives clarity and avoids reactive firefighting.
For many firms the best early 2026 priorities are:
- Email and identity hardening
- Device compliance
- Document management and access control
- Backup and continuity improvements
- Replacing legacy tools that slow down operations
Choose two or three areas that will have the most impact rather than trying to do everything at once.
9 Consider external support where needed
Many businesses without an internal IT director rely on a patchwork of solutions. It works in the short term but becomes difficult to scale and harder to secure.
External partners can help by providing:
- Clear guidance and ownership
- A technology roadmap
- Proactive security measures
- Day to day operational support
- A single point of accountability
This keeps technology aligned with wider business goals rather than operating in isolation.
A stronger and safer 2026 starts with the basics
You do not need large budgets or complex transformation programmes to strengthen your technology and cyber posture. Small disciplined steps create a safer and more resilient business.
See Where You Stand Today
If you want a simple starting point, take our free IT Maturity Assessment. It gives you a clear view of your current strengths and gaps and outlines where to focus first heading into 2026.
Need Help Putting This Into Practice?
AssurePath helps growing organisations build secure and reliable technology foundations supported by trusted people. If you want guidance on your 2026 roadmap or help putting these controls in place we are always happy to talk.